Illuminating apparatus and method of making same



Dec. 14, 1931. 1 WARREN 2,102,049

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed March l5, l93 4 2Sheets-Shqet 3 23 l0 3 l A A A.

\EI \WI m VN role Dec. 14, 1937.

T. W. WARREN ILLUMINATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1934 Patented Dec. 14, 1937- UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE mums-mm arrmrus AND ME'rno or MAKING SAME Thomas W.Warren, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Hanbury A. Budden,Montreal,

Quebec, Canada Application March 15, 1934, Serial No. 715,666 2 Claims.(01. ire-#122) 1 has been attempted by .using parallel tubes with bentends, but these arrangements were fragile, costly to make and expensiveto maintain. Furthermore, the radiation of light was ineflicient,defective and wasteful.

15 The present invention overcomes all these disadvantages and providesa means of furnishing broad. surfaces of incandescent lighteither flator curved, of great strength, giving maximum illumination, using aminimum quantity of gas 20 and electric current and inexpensive to makand mount.

By means of this invention, incandescent gas illumination can be adaptedto many fields hitherto impossible, unsuccessful, or too expensive forpractical application. I

The invention consists briefly in replacing the tubes as gas containersby sealed parallel channels in molded glass, in the form of plane orcurved surfaces. The channels are so connected 30 that a continuous gascontainer is provided of suitable area and length between the excitingelectrodes;

Modification in the arrangement of the channels provides for a greatvariety of novel plane 85 or colored lighting effects. Reference is madeto the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross section of a flat container.

Figure 2 sh ows a diagram of the container element.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the channelled member of a flat container.

Figure 4 shows a cross section of the container 5 with the cover memberin position.

, Figure 5 shows a cross section of a curved container.

Figure 6 shows an arrangement for a two color sign. a j 50 Figure 7shows a cylindrical form.

Figure 8 is a cross section of the form of Figure '7.

Figure 9 shows a dome. Figure 10 shows a side view of the dome partly 55in section.

. in cost and maintenance.

In Figure 2 isshown a cross section of a sealed channel.

k The member 2 is blown glass having the channel 3, the ridges 20, andthe grooves 2|.

The member I has a surface that contacts withthe edges 23 of the ridges29. By means of'gas jets or other heating methods the contacting edges23 are fused to the member I.

When a sealed channel of this approximate cross section is filled withgas and made incan- 10 'descent by electric meansjthe radiation of thelight produced, in a very large proportion passes through the member Iand is diifused over a wide angle. Besides the. direct radiation fromthe channel 3 the inclined sides 26 of the ridges and the bottom reflectthe light through the member I.

By silvering or making a mirror'of the surface 24 practically all thelight from the incandescent 'gas will pass outwards through .the memberI 20 and the maximum illumination will thereby be' utilized. I

When a series of parallel channels 3 are connected as shown in Figure 3to form a continuous channel sealed by fusion to a plate I at its edges,25 gas filled and electrodes 4, 4 mounted in its ends, an illuminatingapparatus is provided that will emit a radiance of high efficlency, thatis simple in construction, that forms an integral body, that is durableand not liable to fracture, that can be so readily framed and that hasan exposed surface which is easily kept clean,

Such an apparatus can be designed for special purposes, as for interiorillumination, street lighting, signals and advertising signs. 5

when curved'surfaces such as shown in Figure 5 are employed the range ofutility is greatly extended. Cylindrical or globular forms can bereadily constructed.

As the channelled glass member and surface 40 member are blown in dies,quantity production is feasible and the cost reduced to a minimum. Owingto the high proportion of light radiated, the channels can be made tocontain a minimum amount of gas, and the current required is re- 9115duced to correspond, which effects great economy Owing to this apparatushaving no exposed bends but being a-complete unit with its surfacesfused together throughout, it is not liable to damage and can.be handledby unskilled workmen" without risk of injury. The invention can bereadily adapted to signsor devices in which two or more colors areemployed by independent channel circuits filled with '55 diiferentgases. This is shown in Figure 6 in which the inner and outer channels 3between the electrodes 4, I produce one color while the intermediatechannels 30 between the electrodes 40, produce a different color. Thewhole device forming one piece of substantial and easily cleaned shape.

With cylinders such as are shown in Figures 7 and 8 a form is providedwhich is adapted for under water illumination where the pressures arehigh.

It is obvious that the sealed channels may be varied in size, width anddepth and that the walls of the channels may be curved as well as flatsurfaces.

Figures 9 and 10 represent a domed form of channelled container.

Instead of the cover member being a plane surface it can be blown toprovide facets ill between the contact points 23 with the channelledmember, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The method of making the invention is as follows:-

Dies are prepared to mold the two members and suitable glass is blowninto the moldsto provide parts of the required thickness.

The molded members are then placed in position with the edges of thechannelled member contacting with the surface of the other member, gasjets are then applied in the grooves under the ridges and to the surfaceabove the contacting area and the ridges are fused to the surface memberthroughout.

The channels are then filled with suitable gas and electrodes sealed inthe ends of the channels.

What I claim is:-

1. The method of producing gas containers for incandescent gasillumination comprising molding a glass member with extended channelsbetween inclined ridges with grooves' under the ridges, molding a memberwith a surface adapted to contact with the ridges of the first member,fusing the contacting portions of the members by gas jets in the groovesand on the opposite surface at the same time to form an integral bod! 2.The method of producing gas containers for incandescent gas illuminationcomprising molding a glass member with parallel channels betweeninclined ridges with grooves under the ridges, molding a member with asurface adapted to contact with the ridges of the first member, fusingthe contacting portions of the members by gas jets applied in thegrooves and on the opposite surface at the same time, and mountingelectrodes at the ends of the channels, and filling the channels with asuitable gas and sealing them.

THOMAS W. WARREN.

